Random Otaku Note: Woohoo! Koji chapters are the best, te kanjii! And speaking of "te kanjii," does anyone else hear Yamaguchi Kappei-san when they picture Genji-kun speaking? (his Ryuichi voice, not his Inuyasha voice, of course) 'Cause I always do...
"This feeling I can't ignore,
This mysterious feeling
It's like our future's a labyrinth, isn't it?
Grasping my dreams tightly
I won't ever give up on myself"
~Kumai Motoko; "Ki Ni Naru Aitsu" (I Can't Ignore Her)~
Koji had always loved mornings. There was something about the crisp coolness of the air, the gentle rays of dawn that cast their blanket of light across the landscape, and the sound of the birds as they took up their daily songs that just gave the co-leader a feeling of peace and solitude. None of the other bandits were ever awake this early - except Genji, for his cooking duties - which gave Koji plenty of time to be by himself, something he rarely got in the lively gang.
The bandit stood in the stronghold's "backyard," within the circle of Reikaku's "Greenhorn's Hell," as it had been jokingly dubbed by someone years ago. In truth, it was just a sparring ring that one of the older gangs had set up, used mainly to sharpen fighting skills, but it had gained the reputation of being the place where new members first learned what it meant to be a Reikaku bandit. Koji smiled, remembering his own experiences as a young member in the infamous circle.
"Kuso!"
Another bandit's sword went clattering across the ring, gathering a cloud of dust as it went. His opponent smiled slightly, but it wasn't a cocky smile; just a friendly one. "Not bad, Yumeji. You've gotten a lot better. Work a little on that uppercut an' you'll be able to beat me in no time."
The one called Yumeji rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment. "Yeah, right. Like any of us'd ever beat you, Hakurou-san. Thanks fer th' advice, though."
He glanced over to where his sword had landed, right at the feet of another young member. The smallest of the bandits picked the sword up with little effort, holding it hilt-first in Yumeji's direction. "Oh, what've you got there, Koji-kun? It's your sword, Yumeji-senpai! I grabbed it for ya. Ah, how thoughtful of ya, Koji-kun! A-ri-ga-tou!"
Yumeji chuckled, taking the blunted blade from the young bandit. "You still talkin' t'yerself, eh? We're gonna have ta break ya of that habit, otherwise th' women'll think yer crazy an' ya'll never get a girlfriend."
Koji blushed as the other bandits chuckled. Hakurou glanced somewhat sternly in his direction, but it was hard for the Reikaku leader not to smile a little. "Oi, Koji-kun, I thought ya were still doin' dish duty? Don't think that jus' 'cause yer little I'll let ya skirt yer duties."
"I finished, Leader! Oh, did you? Well, I'm glad t'see such a hard-worker. Yer gonna make a helluva a bandit, Koji-kun. A-ri-ga-tou..."
"Finished?" Hakurou raised a somewhat disbelieving eyebrow. "Well, all right... then ya'd better get started on th' other chores. Reikaku won't clean itself, after all, and you are the youngest."
Koji's smile dropped immediately, but he didn't dare argue with his mentor and idol. "H-hai, Leader..."
"Aw, c'mon, Hakurou-san, let 'im stay fer a while, na?"
"It won't hurt nothin', an' he ain't been around fer any-a yer ass-whoopin' shows!"
"Oi! Let's let th' kid have a go at Hakurou-san! He c'n hold his own aginst most of us in trainin'; let's see how he fares aginst th' leader! How 'bout it!?"
Koji blinked wide, hazel eyes as Yumeji shoved him into the ring, grinning encouragingly at the young bandit. "C'mon, Koji-kun. Show Leader whatcha got. Maybe he'll lighten yer load-a chores if ya do, na?"
Hakurou flashed a small, amused smile in Koji's direction. He shrugged, admitting his defeat. "I'm out-voted. Go on, Koji-kun, pick a weapon an' let's see how ya fare yer first time in Greenhorn's Hell."
The boy clenched his fists; finally, a chance to really prove himself to the leader! "H-hai, Hakurou-senpai!"
Koji jogged towards the sidelines, where a series of blunted weapons lay ready for anyone who needed them. The young bandit's eyes skimmed right across the swords and rapiers; being as small as he was, he had never really had a use for the longer weapons. Where were they, where were they?... Ha!
The dark-haired youth grabbed a pair of daggers, letting their blades reflect the afternoon sunlight. He held them lightly in his hands, grinning; the perfect weight. "Yoshi [Okay]!" Koji turned, walking back into the ring and gripping the weapons. "Ready, Leader?"
Hakurou continued to smile, though now it seemed more curious than amused. He nodded, crouching into a fighting position. "Show me whatcha got, Koji-kun."
The young bandit didn't wait to size up his opponent; too eager to prove his worth, Koji threw his heart into the battle and attacked.
Hakurou blocked his first swipe easily, but the teenager was expecting that. He backed up a step or two, then stabbed with one dagger while holding off the swordswipes with the other. Koji was too busy concentrating to hear the other bandits murmur in alarm as Hakurou took a small step back.
The bandit leader was no longer smiling. His serene eyes glittered with the light of a fighter; as he stepped back, he whirled his sword to the side, allowing Koji a perfect opening. The youth, not even thinking about what the leader might be doing, plunged his daggers forward. All you had to do was make skin contact or disarm your opponent for the battle to be over...
Clang!
Hakurou's sword flew out of nowhere, sending one of Koji's daggers out of his hand. The young bandit winced at the shockwaves that went through his right fingers, but before he could worry about that Hakurou's weapon was up for another strike.
Koji dropped to the ground and rolled out of the way, for the first time in his life thanking his size as the blade whirred a hairs-breadth from his head. He jumped up, hopping back several paces and watching Hakurou carefully, waiting for the right moment. The bandit shook out his right hand, trying to get the feeling back into it. He switched his remaining dagger out of his left hand, hoping that it would be of better use in his strong arm.
Opening, opening, there had to be an opening... there! Hakurou left his side unguarded, just slightly! Koji plunged inward, realizing too late that the leader had purposely allowed the spot to be open. Hakurou's sword whizzed past him once again, whacking at his already numbed right hand and sending the second dagger flying.
Koji leaped back and managed to grab the weapon before it hit the ground, but as soon as he turned he found a sword-point at his throat. Game over.
Hakurou lowered his sword. The young bandit dropped his other dagger, realizing he had been beaten. Koji clenched his fists in frustration at his sides; Hakurou had beaten him in five moves! Five! And here he had wanted to prove himself! As the cheering grew in volume, the boy felt hot tears in the corners of his eyes...
Wait. Cheering?
Koji looked up, blinking his hazel orbs as he realized the other Reikaku bandits were clapping wildly for their young friend. "N-nani?" He felt a hand on his shoulder; the youth looked up to find himself staring into Hakurou's serene eyes. "Leader..."
"Not bad, Koji-kun," the leader said with a smile. "Maybe I misjudged ya a bit."
"Huh?" the dark-haired youth felt like he couldn't stop blinking in surprise. "But I... I didn't... you beat me so easily..."
Yumeji melded out of the crowd, slapping Koji hard on the back. "What're ya talkin' about!? No beginner around here's ever lasted that long against th' boss! Haha, buncha th' boys figgered you'd be gone in one strike, but I told 'em you'd last at least four! Always knew ya had it in ya, kid!"
The bandit grinned widely. He looked back at Hakurou, pointing at himself in disbelief. "Hontou da? I did good?"
"Ya don't think enough in battle. That's why ya fell fer those fakes," the leader of the Reikaku bandits explained gruffly. "But yer a lot quicker on yer feet'n a lotta guys around here, an' ya've got good instincts." He chuckled. "Yeah, Koji-kun, ya did good."
Yumeji laughed, putting a comforting hand on the yound bandit's shoulder. "Hah, what'd I tell ya? This boy's got a lot goin' fer him, jus' like I always said! Heheh, wouldja b'lieve he's only been practicin' with those things fer a few months? Oi, Naruto, getcher ass over here an' pay me already! I won th' bet fair 'n' square; Koji-kun lasted fer longer'n two hits! C'mon boys, no pushin', there'll be plenty-a time t'get th' prodigy's autograph..."
Koji couldn't help but chuckle, thinking about Hakurou, his mentor, Yumeji, his "aniki," and all the other bandits from his younger years at Reikaku. His first year on the mountain, back when he'd been a skinny orphan trying to find his place in life. Back when he had surprised everyone, including himself, with his talents and resourcefulness. Back when Yumeji had constantly joked about "Koji-kun the Future Boss," and even the kind, yet aloof, Hakurou had watched him with interest.
Back before anyone had even heard of Genrou.
The bandit co-leader slashed at the air with his pair of daggers, starting on a morning exercise he had developed years ago. It was a nice way to warm up, wake yourself up, and just think a little bit. Today, thinking was definitely at the top of the list.
It had been almost a week since the sleepless night when he had encountered Shuu in the woods, and during all that time the thoughts of their conversation had never completely erased themselves from his mind. Though Koji didn't think the youngest Asatenshi sister had meant to, her words of discouragement had only made the bandit more determined to strike up a relationship with Hikaru. Maybe he wanted to prove to Shuu that, leader or not, he had just as much of a chance with the pretty Asatenshi woman as anybody. Maybe he wanted to prove it to himself.
Koji's daggerswipe had a harsher edge to it as he went into the second phase of his exercises. He frowned slightly, letting his body move automatically while his mind was miles away. Prove? When had that become his goal? He didn't want to prove anything, he reminded himself harshly. All he wanted to do was get Hikaru to feel for him the same way he felt for her. There was no crime in that, was there? Was it wrong of him to be in love? Hell, like he could even control that!
But, somehow...
"Koji-samaaaaaa!" a young, wailing bandit voice broke through his concentration.
Koji turned chibi and nearly fell over, snapping back to reality with a start. He whirled, not at all surprised to see Genji staring at him across the ring with big, watering eyes. "G-Genji-kun, don't sneak up on me like that again!"
"Gomen nasai, Koji-sama!" he called, lower lip quivering. "But I have two somethings to talk to you about that are very very very very very important, te kanjii!"
The bandit grinned slightly in the boy's direction. Despite his overenthusiasm and somewhat disturbing speech habits, Koji had to admit he had a soft spot for Genji. In some ways, he reminded himself of a younger him. Maybe not in the cooking, or the hero-worshipping, certainly, but he was so eager to please, so eager to show the leaders - his mentors and idols - what he could do. He was talented with a blade, and was surprisingly quick on his feet, not to mention his size was reminiscent of Koji's own lean-nearing-thin teenage years. Maybe, if things worked out with Hikaru, he'd take a little retirement, and...
"Koji-samaaaaa, did you hear me!?"
"I heard ya, I heard ya!" Koji dropped his arms to his sides, unable to stop the chuckle from escaping his lips. "All right. What's 'very very very very very' important, Genji-kun?"
"Just two little things, Koji-sama!" the bandit answered with a cheerful smile. "The first thing is that I was making breakfast and I wanted to know what you wanted!"
"That was very important?" the bandit sweatdropped. "Eh, those strawberry rice cakes of yers'll be fine. What else?"
Genji's smile dropped and was quickly replaced by a sad, almost betrayed frown. He clenched his fists sadly, purple eyes quivering with the threat of tears. "How could you, Koji-sama...?"
"Eh? How could I what?"
The chibi youth's lower lip quivered. "You promised me... you promised me, Koji-sama..." he put an arm across his eyes, two fountains of tears spouting from his tearducts. "You promised that whenever you did your morning exercises you'd tell me so I could watch and learn knife-throwing from the master, te kanjiiii!"
Koji face-vaulted. "That was important!?"
"It was to me but I guess it wasn't to you I guess I don't mean anything around here I really am totally worthless you're so cruel Koji-samaaaaaaaaaa!"
The bandit gritted his teeth. "Okay okay okay! I'm sorry, Genji-kun, I really am! It was early, an' with those Akutsuki bastards always givin' us hell I guess it slipped my mind. Gomen, gomen! If ya wanna stay out here an' watch th' rest-a th' routine, yer welcome to. I ain't gotten t'the knife-throwin' part, anyway."
Genji's tears immediately dried up as he smiled his chibiest. "Arigatou, Koji-sama! I'll just go get the food ready and then I'll be right back out, te kanjii!"
Koji chuckled as the bandit leaped back into the stronghold, shaking his head slightly at Genji's behavior. He was unique, that was for sure...
Knowing that Genji was more interested in the sword - Tasuki's weapon of choice - than in daggers, Koji started back up on his routine. The young bandit would easily make it out to see the second part of the co-leader's warm-up, and while he was waiting he could finish up the first part.
Koji closed his eyes again, pivoting on his foot and arcing the blades above his head. As he slipped back into the fifteen-year old routine - gods, had it been that long? - the bandit allowed his mind to wander again. Deciding that he wasn't in the mood to think of Hikaru - well, not necessarily Hikaru (Koji always loved thinking about her), but about the problems that came with her - the bandit turned his thoughts to the week's happenings. Suzaku knew there had been a lot going on around Reikaku.
The Akutsuki clan had been attacking almost regularly, making small hit-and-run attempts on the stronghold. A few bandits were always on the alert, but somehow the rival gang managed to slip past them everytime. It was almost like they knew where the patrols would be when they attacked...
But that was impossible. The watches were switched up regularly, and the schedules were always changed to throw even the most observant of spies off. Koji, the resident expert in campaigning, had made doubly sure of that. The bandit frowned thoughtfully. 'The most observant of spies...?'
No. That was ridiculous. No way were there traitors in Reikaku! Koji opened his eyes again, brushing a strand of hair out of his eyes and tucking his daggers back into his belt. He pulled out two of his throwing knives, heading over to the makeshift targets. His frown deepened slightly as he tossed one of the knives carefully at the target, getting warmed up before he tried anything tricky.
Still, it would be stupid of him to rule anything out, he reminded himself. He would have to keep a close eye on the other bandits, just to make sure none of them were doing things they shouldn't be. Still, it seemed awfully unlikely that one of Reikaku's own would...
One of Reikaku's own...?
The image of the young Asatenshi woman appearing out of the woods flashed through Koji's mind. She had avoided his queries on why she was out at night. In fact, any time he tried to bring that night up she changed the subject or walked off. It was suspicious behavior for anyone, especially a newcomer.
But she had also saved his life. He couldn't forget that. No traitor would save the life of a Reikaku enemy, especially a co-leader.
Unless that was part of the plan...?
Koji shook his head fiercely. These Akutsuki guys were making him paranoid! He had no legitimate reason for suspecting anyone on the mountain. Besides, if he thought Shuu was an enemy, than it was perfectly likely that she and Hikaru would be working together. And the thought of Hikaru as an Akutsuki spy was one he absolutely would not believe.
'Ach. Stop thinking so much. It's too early,' he chided himself, chuckling as he focused all of his attention on his throwing knives. 'Gonna give yerself grey hairs if ya keep those thoughts up...'
The bandit leader tensed suddenly, ending his exercise with a series of quick moves. He rolled away from an invisible enemy, sighting the target while on the ground and whizzing one of his knives in its direction. Swish! Thunk! Right into the center. Koji hopped up quickly, found the remaining weapon that was still hidden in his shirt, grabbed it, and tossed it out all in one fluid motion.
Whump! Koji couldn't help but smile, just barely. The knife had lodged itself firmly into a barely noticeable blade of dead grass that had managed to push its way up in the dirt-packed ring. The stalk couldn't have been bigger around than a worm; probably less. The bandit chuckled, going over and pulling the weapon out of the ground. "Just where I was aimin'. Heh, guess I still got it..."
Someone - or, rather, two someones - began clapping behind him. Koji turned, rubbing the back of his head and expecting to see Genji and one of the other bandits... and nearly fell over in surprise.
Hikaru sat on a log next to the young bandit, clapping her delicate hands appreciatively. The Asatenshi sister was all smiles. "Sugoi! Totemo sugoi, Mitsuragi-san!"
Koji turned a shade of red, grinning at the young woman and taking a little bow. "Arigatou, Hikaru-san. Heh, if I'd known I had an audience I'd-a put on a more interestin' show."
"Interesting? Goodness, and that wasn't?" Hikaru clapped her hands together under her chin. "I could practice with knives for the rest of my life and never get that good! You're a skilled fighter, Mitsuragi-san, and extremely talented too!"
"Well, arigatou again, Hikaru-san," the bandit responded, blushing still brighter. "I'm glad you enjoyed it. An' really, you c'n jus' call me Koji."
"Enjoy it!? How could she not!?" Genji gushed happily, small hearts popping up around his head. "That technique... that flair... that skill... that grace... Koji-sama is absolutely the most amazing knife-thrower in the entire universe, te kanjii!"
Koji sweatdropped. "Eh... thanks, Genji-kun." The bandit decided that now would definitely be a good time for he and Hikaru to have some time alone for once. "Oi, how's breakfast comin', na? Rice cakes sound pretty good right now..."
"Ah!" the youth jumped up, bowing to the older member. "Gomen nasai, gomen nasai! I got so busy watching I forgot all about breakfast! I'll go get everything set up and ready so it tastes absolutely perfect for you, Koji-sama!"
Hikaru watched the young bandit leave, sweatdropping slightly. "He's certainly energetic."
"No kiddin'," Koji said with a chuckle, walking up next to the Asatenshi woman and taking a seat on the log. "So, Hikaru-san, may I ask what yer doin' up so early?"
"Oh!" Hikaru frowned a little. "Well, actually, I was looking for Tasuki, but I suppose he's still sleeping. I needed to talk to him about Chichiri's condition..."
Koji felt his heart drop. She had been looking for Tasuki. Of course. "Oh," the bandit said flatly. "He ain't usually up this early. What's wrong with Chichiri?"
"Wrong? Well, nothing," she admitted. "I just wanted to let Tasuki know that I think that my spell will probably begin to reach him today. With luck, he'll start to remember the real world better."
"Genrou'll be happy t'hear that." Koji realized that Hikaru was biting her lip. "Somethin' wrong?"
"Well, no... and yes," she admitted. The young woman frowned harder, staring into the trees as if searching for an answer to her problems among the branches. "I'm breaking through, as I knew I would, but... someone is using deflective magic."
"Deflective...?"
"It's like they have a net around his closed universe," she explained. "My spell can get through, but once this 'net' filters everything, my own magic is extremely weak. It's making it harder and harder for me to help him..."
Koji came to the same conclusion he knew the sister must have. "Someone's blockin' ya. They don't want ya t'reach Chichiri. Am I right?"
Hikaru nodded. "Someone wants to keep him there. It must be the same person who Trapped him to begin with... if I could only figure out who it was..." she chewed on her lip unhappily, emerald eyes shimmering with the threat of tears. "Chichiri... I don't want to fail you, not now..."
The bandit co-leader shifted, not completely sure what to do. He understood how much Hikaru cared about Chichiri - he was like an older brother to her, after all - and didn't know what he could do to help her. Gods, he wasn't even sure how to help Genrou...
Koji put a hesitant hand on Hikaru's shoulder. "Oi... oi, Hikaru-san. C'mon, don't cry, all right? Chichiri knows how much ya care about him. How much Genrou, 'n' me too, I guess, care about him. Even if someone is tryin' t'block ya, I know that kind of emotion c'd never be lost or forgotten. You'll reach him, if not with yer power than with yer heart, an' I know he'll feel an' remember that. Chichiri's tough, like I told ya b'fore. He'll pull through."
Hikaru looked up, smiling gently at the bandit. "Arigatou, Mitsuragi-san," she said quietly. "You've been very kind to my sister and me since we arrived. You even stood up for us, when we had every right to be your first suspects after Chichiri was Trapped. I truly appreciate that."
"It's nothin', Hikaru-san. An' please, call me Koji." The bandit tugged at his collar with his free hand, clearing his throat. He blushed slightly, looking down and frowning in embarassment. "Actually, Hikaru-san... I wanted t'tell ya..."
The young woman didn't seem to hear him. She stood, brushing off her skirts and turning towards the bandit co-leader. She was smiling again, just as happy and gentle as always. "Goodness, it's only sunrise and I'm already getting all depressed. I really need to cheer up." Hikaru held out a hand, offering the bandit some help up. "Let's go see if we can get a taste of Genji-kun's meal before anyone else does, okay?"
Koji grinned. Even if he hadn't been able to say it, at least Hikaru was finally showing an interest in him. He accepted her offered hand. "Sounds like a good idea. I'm starved."
Bandit and Asatenshi sister made their way down one of Reikaku's halls, on a roundabout route for the kitchens. Koji was surprised at how easy it was for him to talk to the woman he had so hopelessly fallen in love with; she was such an interesting person that there always seemed to be something to say.
"So, how long have you been working on that routine, hm?" Hikaru wondered, blue skirts swishing behind her as she walked quickly to keep up with the long-legged bandit. "To be that good must have taken a lot of work, I'm sure!"
Koji intentionally slowed down so Hikaru wouldn't have to walk so fast to keep his pace. "Well, lessee..." he ticked off the years on his fingers, looking up as if searching the ceiling for his memory. "I came t'the stronghold when I was... then Genrou joined... so it woulda been..." he looked back in her direction. "Musta pieced it t'gether when I was nineteen, I guess! 'Course, it was a lot messier back then..."
"Nineteen? Goodness, I didn't realize you had been at the stronghold for so long!"
"Sure have! I'm th' oldest member on th' mountain, come t'think of it. Genrou joined about a year after I did, so he takes a close second, but I'm still in th' lead. Yep, this place is definitely my home sweet home." Koji glared at her, scowling in mock irritation. "An' how old d'ya think I am, anyway? Yeesh, don't make it sound like I've been here fer half a century 'r somethin'!"
Hikaru smothered a giggle into her sleeve. "Sumimasen." She paused thoughtfully, then blushed a little. "So, Mitsuragi-san and Tasuki have been friends for a very long time, deshou?"
"Fifteen years, give 'r take. Been fightin', trainin' an' drinkin' t'gether fer about that long, too, heheh."
"In that case, Tasuki must be a very good battler as well."
"Sure is. He learned from th' same master I did, after all."
She smiled a little. "It would certainly be entertaining to see which of you would come out on top in battle. I have never seen Tasuki fight, but I'm sure it would be quite an event."
Koji chuckled. "A buncha the boys're always tryin' t'get us t'have a little competition over th' summer, but Genrou 'n' I ain't big inta that kinda thing. It ain't all about beatin' one another with us. We prefer t'work t'gether, me with my strengths an' him with his. Know what I mean?"
"Nevertheless, it would be a very interesting battle. I wonder who would win?"
Koji but a hand to his chin thoughtfully. "That's hard t'say. In a fistfight, Genrou'd prob'ly have th' upper hand 'cause he a little stronger'n me, an' a whole lot faster. In a swordfight, though, we're probably evenly matched. I c'd fend off his seishi speed if I've got a weapon better'n I can without one. But as far as long-distance goes," he chuckled and jerked a thumb at himself, "even Genrou'd have ta agree that I win th' prize in that category. Ain't been a bandit on the mountain who could best me in an archery, knife 'r dart competition." Koji paused again, then smiled slightly. "I might win. I've got one major advantage. I know Genrou's weakness."
"His weakness?"
"Sure. Every fighter's got a weakness. I do, Genrou does, Chichiri and Shuu-san prob'ly do too. Everyone's gotta have somethin' they're bad at. That's what makes us human. The old leader, Hakurou, taught me that."
"He must have been a very wise man."
Koji frowned slightly; even though many years had gone by, he still missed the long-dead leader's poise, bravery, and leadership skills. Hakurou had said that he and Tasuki would surpass him, but the co-leader still thought he had a long way to go. "Yeah. He was."
"I'm sure he would be very proud of you and Tasuki."
"I like t'think so," Koji turned, smiling in Hikaru's direction and waving a hand. "Hey, now I'm th' one gettin' all depressed! I'm sure that wherever Hakurou is he'd be pissed if he saw me gettin' all mopy about this after so long. We better change th' subject t'somethin' cheerier."
"Hai!" Hikaru blushed again, just slightly, and looked away from the bandit. "Mitsuragi-san-"
"Hey, c'mon, what've I told ya already? Call me Koji."
"Very well, Koji-san." Those words were like music to the co-leader's lovestruck ears. "I was wondering... do you suppose-"
But whatever Hikaru was wondering would continue to remain unsaid, for the moment anyway. The new bandit Ken turned a corner sharply, running straight into the pair before they knew what hit them. There was a large puff of dust, then three chibi forms found themselves lying on the ground in a heap.
Koji winced, rubbing at a quickly-forming lump on his forehead. He looked up, blinking wide eyes. "Ah. Ken-kun. What're you doin' up so early?"
The newcomer had one hand over his eye, where he had whacked it against the co-leader's skull. "Itetete..." he looked up, visible eye widening. "Ah! Koji!" Ken hopped to his feet, pointing back the direction he had come. "Came - ran - need you! Quickly - kitchens - important..."
"In th' kitchens? What th' hell's wrong in th' kitchens?"
"It's Genji-kun," Ken said quickly, tugging urgently on the co-leader's sleeve. His eyes read real concern, and something nearing panic. "Something's happened. He's hurt. Hayaku!"
The young Ri sister tiptoed quietly out of the kitchen and down the hall to her brother's room. She poked her head around the door, smiling at Houjun's sleeping face. Kyoui walked across the room, careful not to squeak any floorboards. The young girl leaned down next to her brother, put her mouth close to his ear, and gently brought him out of slumber:
"OHAYOOOOOOOOOU!"
"Daaaaaaaa!" A chibi Houjun jumped out of bed, flying so high that he hit the roof. Literally. "Itai..."
Kyoui glanced up at her brother - who was now stuck to the ceiling - with big eyes. "O... onii-chan?" The little girl rubbed the back of her head, giggling nervously. "Oops, heheh. I guess I overdid it a little."
"That's an understatement," he muttered from his plastered spot.
"Gomen, Onii-chan!" Kyoui said cheerfully, standing on the bed so she could unpeel him from the ceiling. "But Okaa-san said that since it's been a week since you were sick, Ryuichi-sensei won't accept any excuses for you missing or being late for class. I didn't want you to get in trouble, so I had to get you up somehow."
"Ever heard of a gentle shake and a whispered, 'Time for school'?" he asked, feigning irritability as he threw on a faded blue robe.
"Nope, never!" she said with a grin, hopping off his bed and heading towards the door.
Houjun glanced over his shoulder at the young girl. "Hm? Leaving so soon? That's unusual."
"I gotta run!" Kyoui explained. "Now that Otoo-san's back, I have to tell him everything that happened to me the last couple of weeks! I don't have much time, either, so I gotta talk fast! See you in the kitchen!"
"Hai, hai..." Houjun said, smiling at the thought of his father being back home. The older man had arrrived late yesterday evening, so no one had had much of a chance to speak with him, but already the house felt happier, more complete. Houjun always liked it better when his father was nearby, even if Ri Shinsei was a bit stricter than his wife.
The young man tied a thin sash around his waist, glancing out the window and swearing in surprise. "Shimatta! It has to be almost seven-thirty! If I don't hurry..." he snatched his slippers from the floor by his bed, then turned and ran out the door of his room.
Houjun jumped into his shoes as he hopped down the hallway, rounding a corner and entering the kitchen. "Ohayou!" he said hurriedly, grabbing his schoolbooks and heading straight for the door.
"Ain't you gonna stay for breakfast?" Mitsuru wondered, blinking in surprise at his brother's quick entrance and equally quick exit.
"It's my first morning back," his father, Shinsei, remarked with a small smile. "Not even going to share it with me?"
"Gomen Otoo-san, but I don't have time! I'll be late if I stick around here much longer!" Houjun called back, snatching a rice cake from the kitchen counter and impatiently letting his mother brush her lips against his cheek. Once that was finished, he turned on his heel and darted out the door, one hand raised in a farewell wave. "Itekimasu!"
Yukari smiled slightly at the spot where her son had been, folding her arms across her chest. "It's good to see him acting like his normal self. After that incident last week I thought something might be seriously wrong with him, but I guess it was nothing after all."
"Incident?" Shinsei looked up, one eyebrow raised in a question. "Did something happen to Houjun?"
The three other family members smiled nervously. Yukari rubbed the back of her head. "That's, ah, sort of a long story..."
Houjun raced down the street, bag thumping against his back as he dashed for Hikou's house. Even though today was his friend's day to work in the market, Houjun still liked to walk with him as far as possible. The young man slowed down to a jog as he got closer to Hikou's home, sighing happily as he watched the sun clear the horizon. 'What a beautiful day,' he thought with a smile. 'Kyokujitsu Village certainly lives up to its name...'
The day was all the better for Houjun, who could safely say that it had been exactly one week since the terrible headaches and visions he had experienced. All week he felt like he had been walking on a tightrope hundreds of feet above the ground: cringing constantly, staggering against vertigo, and terrified of falling off. Part of him was actually expecting the attacks, waiting for the right words, the right circumstances, to trigger his Hell into returning.
But nothing had happened. Somehow, he had survived a week with no visions, no headaches, and only the occasional unusual - yet pleasant - dream. As far as Houjun was concerned, a week was a long enough time to declare yourself one-hundred percent healed, and to finally brush off the horrid events as nothing serious. Hikou and Kouran seemed to have forgotten all about it; and now, finally he could as well. The teenager almost felt like leaping into the air, it was a such a great feeling, like a weight had been lifted off his back.
"Houjun, you airhead! What're you doing, strolling along with that silly grin on your face!? We'll both be late if you don't hurry!"
Hikou's voice, full of feigned impatience, snapped Houjun out of his happy, private thoughts. The young man glanced up, waving to his friend as he picked up his speed. The two friends fell into step with one another, Hikou shooting his companion an accusing glare. "You look pleased. What's to be so excited about this early in the morning? You and Kouran have your first last night or something?"
Houjun popped him lightly over the head. "Unlike some people, I'm not a walking sex fiend."
"What? Me, a sex fiend? C'mon, I'm the gentlest, purest person in our entire grade! The very image of proper behavior, if you will. Hah, I'm so pure, I may just join a monastery and swear off women for good."
"Yeah, and I'll join you," Houjun said sarcastically. He pointed a finger accusingly at his friend. "You're the pervert who dared me to pull up Hajimoto's skirt in eighth grade."
"Yeah, well you're the pervert who followed through on the dare."
"It was either that or do your homework for a month."
"Oh please, you were lovin' every minute of it - right up until she slapped you, that is!"
"Yeah, but after I told her that you made me do it, she apologized and then slapped you harder!"
"So? Compared to you, I'm a saint!"
"Compared to you, I'm an angel!"
"And compared to the both of you, I'm the most honest person in Konan."
Hikou and Houjun jumped, whirling to face the third member of their party. "Kouran!? When'd you-!?"
Their female counterpart sweatdropped, jerking a thumb over her shoulder. "You are standing in front of my house, you know. Goodness, when the two of you start arguing it's like the rest of the world disappears. I can't leave you alone for a second, can I?" Kouran raised an eyebrow, a small smile playing on her lips. "So, what was the fight about this time, hm? Saints and angels... I'm almost afraid to ask."
Hikou grinned. "Oh, we were just talking about that one time when Houjun-" his friend tackled him to the ground, clapping a hand tightly over his mouth.
"When Houjun what?" Kouran wondered, blinking at the pair of chibi young men.
"When he-"
"Nothing, nothing!" Houjun insisted, wrestling with his best friend. He managed to get close enough to hiss in his ear. "Kouran doesn't know about that: she wasn't there that day, remember?"
The young woman nodded knowingly. "Is this about that time you lifted Airi-chan's skirt?"
"WHA!?" Houjun looked up, mouth agape. "How did you know about that?"
"Did you think the two of you were my only friends? Airi-chan and I have known each other since grade school; she told me all about it." Kouran giggled at her friend's open-mouthed expression, patting his head comfortingly. "Daijoubu, Houjun. I still love you, even if you are an incurable pervert."
"It was Hikou's fault!"
"Whatever you say..."
"It really was!"
"You just keep tellin' yourself that, little guy."
"Sukoshi ja nai yo!"
"It's Genji-kun. He's hurt. Hayaku!"
"Genji-kun!?" Koji's eyes widened in surprise. He started down the hallway at a sprint, jerking his head back long enough to call. "Ikize [Let's go], Ken-kun, Hikaru-san!" The two followed shortly.
The Reikaku co-leader skidded around a corner, taking the most direct route possible to the kitchen area. His mind raced with worries, questions about Genji and possible injuries that he could have obtained. Had there been a fire? A cooking accident? An attack? Koji gritted his teeth; if those Akutsuki bastards lay a single finger on Genji, he'd-!
Koji flung open the kitchen doors, glancing around wildly for the young bandit and surprised to see Shuu instead. "Eh!? Shuu-san!? Where's Genji-kun?"
The younger Asatenshi sister wordlessly jerked her head towards the far corner. The bandit slid across the slick kitchen floor, kneeling at Genji's side. The younger Reikaku member, his back to the wall, had his knees curled to his chest and his head between his knees. He was shivering visibly. Koji grabbed the youth's shoulders, shaking them to get the boy's attention. "Oi, oi, Genji-kun? Daijoubu ka? Doshita na?"
"Itai..." The young bandit looked up, lower lip quivering as his purple eyes full of tears. "Koji-sama... it really hurts..."
"What happened?!"
"Koji-sama..." Genji threw his arms around the co-leader's neck, burying his head in Koji's sleeve. "Make it stop, please... make it stop hurting..."
The bandit glanced down awkwardly at the youth, but was too worried to bother with the gesture of affection. "Genji-kun, where're ya hurt? What c'n I do t'help!?"
"Itai..." the youth looked up, crying two small rivers. "It's my... it's my... my tummy, te kanjii!"
Koji sweatdropped, eyes turning into small dots. "Yer 'tummy'?" Genji nodded, still sobbing almost uncontrollably. "Yer... 'tummy'...?" Another nod. The bandit sighed, patting the young bandit's back. "Daijoubu, daijoubu, Genji-kun. You'll be all right. I'm here."
Genji smiled, blushing happily and practically curling up in the co-leader's arms. "Yokatta, te kanjii."
"How sweet. Genji-kun's got a crush on you," Shuu remarked dryly, expression and tone completely emotionless. Koji blushed bright red and opened his mouth to snap a reply, but the Asatenshi woman continued speaking. "If you've got him sufficiently seduced, you think you could come over here and take a look at this?"
"Seduced-!? I wasn't...!"
"Right, right, I almost forgot. You only like perfectly-shaped, perfectly-well-mannered, perfectly-unattainable women, don't you?"
"You've got a lotta nerve-!"
"Koji-san!" Hikaru dashed into the room, Ken right on her heels. Grabbing her skirts in one hand, she rushed to the bandit's side, glancing down at the green-haired youth. "Is he all right?"
"I think so," Koji said, shifting the whimpering Genji from his arms into Hikaru's awaiting lap. "He said his tum - er, his stomach hurts." Somehow, the bandit was fairly sure Reikaku gang members shouldn't be allowed to use the word "tummy." "I dunno what happened..."
"Ken-san explained it to me on the way down here," Hikaru said, checking the young bandit's vitals as quickly as she could. "Would you mind telling it again please, Ken-san? I'm a little busy."
The newcomer nodded, melodious voice quietly reaching Koji's hears as he relayed the short tale. "I woke up early this morning to use the, er, 'necessary,' and on the way back I happened to run into Shuu-san. She said she'd woken up due to some noises near her window, and had sensed a threatening presence. Shuu-san hadn't been able to find anything, and was on her way back to her room. Well, the two of us were starting to get hungry, and we weren't tired anymore, so we headed over to the kitchens to see what Genji-kun was cooking up."
"This is what he was cooking up," Shuu said, gesturing towards a potful of a boiling liquid. "Some kind of reddish sauce-"
"The Genji-chan Strawberry Special!" the young bandit moaned from his seat in Hikaru's lap. Seeming to realize that he had been moved, Genji tried to scoot his way back into Koji's arms, but was forced down by Asatenshi and co-leader alike. "Special spices... best strawberries on the mountain... a perfect blend of sweet and sour... I was making it just for Koji-sama, 'cause he likes it so much... te kanjii..."
"Yeah," Ken couldn't help but sweatdropping a little. "That. Anyway, he told us the rice cakes were ready and the sauce just needed some extra touches. Genji-kun bit into one of his cakes, then took a taste of the sauce, and said they tasted a little strange. Then he got this odd look on his face, grabbed his stomach, moaned, and said he wasn't feeling too good. He looked extremely pale, and I suggested he take a seat. He did what I asked, except... instead of sitting, he sort of stumbled into the corner and collapsed where you found him. That was when Shuu-san decided we should find you or Genrou."
"Good thinkin'," Koji said, nodding in the Asatenshi sister's direction. "Musta been some kind of food poisonin'. They've been in storage all winter, after all..."
Shuu shook her head, holding up a ladleful of sauce. "I don't think that's it." Koji raised an eyebrow; the sister nodded towards the pot. "See for yourself."
The co-leader stood, walking over and taking the ladle from the Asatenshi woman. "Nani?"
"Have a whiff of that. You smell anything odd? If that doesn't work, take a taste. Just stick your tongue in it real quick. Tell me what you think."
Koji did as she said, frowning thoughtfully. "It's definitely got a funny flavor..." he closed his eyes, searching his brain for the limited numbers of tastes and smells he had been taught to recognize. The co-leader's hazel orbs snapped open in surprise and realization. "Ken-kun, go wake Genrou 'n' Ryo. Come back as quick's ya can. Maybe we c'n still catch th' bastards who did this."
"What is it, Koji-san?" Ken asked, blinking in surprise at the string of demands.
"Wolfbane," Koji said shortly; but that one word was enough. The new bandit nodded quickly and was out the kitchen door in just as short a time.
Shuu nodded, taking the spoon back from him and sticking it into the pot. "And lots of it." The young woman jerked her head in the direction of the rice cakes. "Those've got it just as bad. Genji-kun's lucky he didn't have more than a taste of each." Nearby, the young man moaned pitifully. "He's got every right to complain, too - I'm surprised he's still awake, with the stomach cramps he must be having."
"But who in the world would do something so low?" Hikaru asked, putting a hand lightly on the young bandit's arm. "Well, at least no one was severely hurt, and Genji-kun should be all right..."
Koji wasn't listening. The bandit's hand was gripped tightly against the countertop, and his other fist was trembling slightly with pent-up anger. Shuu glanced over, surprised by the amount of hatred in his hazel eyes.
He spat only a single word: "Akutsuki!"
Kouran scribbled the final answer on her math questions, looking up and breathing a heavy sigh of relief. 'Thank goodness that's finished,' she thought, leaning back in her chair. 'I forgot how hard these tests were...'
The young woman put her chin in her hand, glancing to her left to watch as Houjun struggled with the last couple of problems. She smiled gently, brown eyes softening as she watched her love toil away at his work. He had never been naturally talented in this class, but he worked so hard that he couldn't help but get good grades. Another thing she had forgotten about him. Another thing she loved about him.
The past week had been hard on her childhood friend, something she had been only too aware of and probably just as worried about as he was. Hikou had expressed his concerns to her privately, told her about Houjun's nightmares, and had even suggested forgetting this whole thing. He had actually shown signs of wanting to tell their comrade the truth!
Kouran frowned, turning her orbs back to her paper and biting her lip slightly. Hikou. Just thinking the name made her want to spit in contempt. Gods, she had never thought she would be cooperating with him again, especially in something that involved Houjun.
The young woman had been reluctant about getting his help at first, but that woman had insisted that the two of them were needed. So, in order to rescue her beloved, Kouran had had to make a few sacrifices. She was somewhat proud of herself, actually, being able to pretend she was still friends with him after so many years. But then again, in this world of memories, it was hard not to get caught up in the past.
'And now he's thinking about ruining it all again,' she grumbled to herself, gripping her quill tightly in her hand. 'But I won't let him! I've allowed that bastard to mess up too much... I won't let him do it twice.'
Oh, well. Try not to think too much about that. All she had to do was survive a few months of this charade, and then everything would be finished. Then Houjun would be free. Then he would finally have the happiness that had been denied him for so long. Because of her. Because of him.
'She had better just keep her end of the bargain,' Kouran thought, looking over at Houjun once again and frowning. 'Those visions, those headaches... she warned me, but I never thought it would be that scary. She had better be doing everything she can to prevent that from happening again.' Kouran sighed a little, closing her eyes. 'Well, it's been a week, after all. Unless that sister that she warned us about is still trying to break through, then maybe we don't have anything to worry about. It's not like Houjun would want to go back to that horrible world, after all...'
"All right, class, that's all the time you get," Wei-sensei said from the front of the room. "Pass your papers forward."
The group did as she said, then sat back and relaxed while they waited for the next part of their lessons to begin. Kouran looked over at Houjun, and was just about to open her mouth to say something, when the door to the classroom opened once again. Everyone grew silent, glancing up in surprise to see the headmaster himself standing at the front of the group.
Ryuichi-sensei cleared his throat, running a hand through his graying hair and looking at the class. "Ladies and gentlemen," he grumbled, glaring severely at each student in turn, as if they had done something horribly wrong, "I would like to announce that, for the next couple of classes, you will not be taught by Wei-sensei." The scattered cheers were quickly silenced by an icy stare. "A young teacher from a nearby village just moved into town, and we are letting her handle this class for a few days so that she may get acquainted with the system."
Kouran's eyes widened in surprise. A new teacher? How could that be possible? This world was based on Houjun's memories, on her own and Hikou's memories. How could a new teacher suddenly appear?
Her questions were answered quickly, but the answers did little to ease her heart and mind. Even so, Kouran's worries and fears seemed pitifully small in comparison to the torment and pain that was about to befall her beloved.
Houjun glanced up, almost bored at the prospect of a temporary teacher, but his boredom evaporated as quickly as his good mood.
The young woman entering the room was clothed in a tasteful dress of pale yellow that fit snugly around her delicate body. She stepped across the floor lightly, facing the class and bowing to the small group. "Kon'nichi wa, minna-san," she said, her strong voice carrying a hint of both gentleness and harshness within it. Her soft, lively emerald eyes, framed by a head of short black hair, flashed secretively in the morning sunlight. "I am Tenshuru Asashi, and very pleased to be working with you this week."
Houjun did not hear the name she called herself. He did not need to. His breath caught in his throat as he viewed the new addition to Kyokujitsu, hand gripping his pen so tightly he thought he might snap it. His mahogany orbs widened in surprise, disbelief and fear, as he felt the clammy claw of dread take a firm grip on his heart.
"It's her," he gasped under his breath, too quietly for even Kouran to hear.
He had thought his misery was over. He now knew it was only beginning.
And through it all, one name rang incessantly through his mind, a name that he had never been able to find a face for... until now.
Asatenshi!
******
Hao, minna-san!
Sorry for the wait! Work, school and life caught up with me, the dirty little buggers. Can't they see I have more important things to do? Honestly, the real world doesn't understand an Otaku's addiction. A couple things to touch base on, plus an infuriating anecdote, so try not to fall asleep during this freetalk.
Random Chapter Comments I took a little break from the plotline today - something you'll find I'm surprisingly good at - in order to bring you... yes it's true... Koji goodness! Huzzah! I just couldn't resist a Koji chapter. Even though he's going to get a million of them in the Second Movement... *Sweatdrop* No Tasuki, though. Sorry to fans of redheaded bandits, I promise he'll be back in the next exciting installment!
Answering Reviews Thanks to everyone who has been reviewing "Rhapsody!" Your kind words of support have continuously stopped me when I was inches away from throwing RFS down the drain! Domo arigatou gozaimasu, Val-chan, Roku-senpai, Meg-chan, Kourin-san and Fire Pendant-san! *Profuse bowing* Though I obviously can't answer all of your questions and comments for plot-revealing purposes, I will respond to what I can. So away we go:
To Roku-senpai, on her remark about the "chibi" form: I'm not sure why I use that, to be honest. I never really thought of it as a comic crutch or anything, though you do make a good point about that. And really, in my older Pokestories, I never used chibi! I guess it's just that, to me, since FY used chibiness all the time, it makes it more like the show. It's like writing Tasuki with his cursing or Chichiri with his "no da"s - it's just "in character." I don't think it's bad if you don't or anything, it's just, you know, one of my writing quirks. Go figure.
Random Story #53: Chichiri & Baka-chan After literally years of unsuccessfully attempting to suck my younger stepsister into the world of anime, I finally managed to sit her down and get her to watch "Fushigi Yuugi." She loved it, naturally, and I'm so happy about it that I'll even forgive her for liking Tamahome and Miaka. But I'll never forgive her for... ah-hem... so anyway, we're watching and, it's during the Kodoku incident, and Chichiri takes off his mask for a serious moment. Now, Baka-chan (her real name's Becca, but I rather like calling her Baka ^^) has been saying that she wants to see him without his mask on - who wouldn't? - and when she does, she says... get this: "I don't like it. It's gross."
....Gross? GROSS?! How can you call that sexy piece of monk ass gross?! Honestly. I don't understand her. And I'm never forgiving her. No way, no how, no chance. That was just cruel... just unbelievably cruel... *Grumble* What do Tamahome fans know, anyway...? (I'm going to get massacred for that, aren't I? *Wince*)
Question of the Week: Why weren't Tasuki and Chichiri given armor during the Kutou War? Methinks Hotohori be jealous of their popularity, yes? ^.~
Verse Preview Tasuki and Hikaru have a bonding moment, Genji-kun recovers with amazing quickness, and Houjun... well, the poor guy's life certainly isn't getting any easier. And who is this Tenshuru woman, anyway? Bah, this has gotten too long. See you next time!
The Rambling Chichiri Protector,
Dee ~_^